Pressure apparatus for stored fermented liquids.



Patented Aug. I899.

No. 630,l60.

J. H. AYASSE. PRESSURE APPARATUS FOR STORED FERMENTED LIQUIDS.

(Application filed Jan. 13, 1898.)

3 Sheets-Sheet I,

(No Model.)

INVENTOR v Wm WlTNESSES M m. M

A-TTOR N EY 5 we uonms Perms co. PNOYO-LITHQ. wxsnmcrom a c PatentedAug. I, I899.

J. H. AYASSE. PRESSURE APPARATUS FOR STORED FERMENTED LIQUIDS.

(Application filed Jan. 13, 1898.)

3 Sheets-8heet 2.

(No Model.)

INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEYS we NORRIS PETER$ co. Puoraumc, wnnwcvou. oc,

No. 630,!60. Patented Aug. I, I899. J. H. AYASSE.

PRESSURE APPARATUS FOR STORED FERMENTED LIQUIDS.

(Application filed Jan. 13, 1898.) 1N0 Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

WlTNESSES: lN'VENTOR a. 4. MM. ahmfimmymybwsw,

' BY W m W ,(hwwwg mus UNiTnn STATES PATENT @TFICE.

JOHN HENRY AYASSE, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

PRESSURE APPARATUS FOR STORED FERIVIENTED LIQUIDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 630,160, dated August1, 1899.

Application filed January 13, 1898. berial No. 666,539. (No model.)

To all whom, it 'ntcty concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN HENRY AYASSE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Pressure Apparatus forStored Fermented Liquids and Regulating Devices Therefor; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact-descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to letters and figures of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

The objects of this invention are to reduce the cost of maintaining thefermenting liquid within storage-casks of a brewery at a regular andeven degree of compression, to prevent undue compression and the dangercaused thereby of the cask containing the fermenting liquid bursting andbeing thus rendered worthless and the contents wasted, to regulate thecompression with greater convenience and ease, to maintain a series ofcasks at a uniform and even degree of compression, and to secure otheradvantages and results, some of which may be referred to hereinafter inconnection with the description of the working parts:

The invention consists in the improved pressure'regulating device forcasks containing fluid, more particularly beer or other fermentedliquor, and especially those casks which are used for storing the liquidpreliminary to racking off into bottles or kegs, and in the arrangementsand combinations of parts of the same, all substantially as will behereinafter set forth, and finally embraced in the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters andfigures of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the views,Figure 1 is a plan showing the arrangement of my improved system ofdevices by means of which the casks of one or more series are broughtinto connection with one another and with a common regulating device.Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 5 is a plan of my improvedregulating device. Fig. 4 is a section of the same, taken at line at,Fig. Fig. 5 is a detail section taken at line 00, Fig.

4. Fig. 6 is a section showing a modified and a sometimes preferredconstruction of my improvements, the section being taken on line y, Fig.7. Fig. 7 is a plan of said modified construction. Fig. 6' is a detailside elevation of a certain valve-rod-su pporting tube and its cap. Fig.9 is a plan of a certain resilient sheet-metal diaphragm employed inconnection with the regulating device; and Fig. 10 is a sectional viewof said diaphragm, taken at line a, Fig. 9.

In said drawings, 66 Ct to a, a a illustrate two series of casks, whichcasksin practice are adapted to contain one hundred and twentyfivebarrels of fluid, more or less, each. These casks ordinarily arearranged in opposite sides of a passage-way b and are provided with theordinary means whereby the liquid may be racked oif from time to timeand the casks replenished with new fluid. Ordinarily it is the practiceto fill said casks once every one or two months, more or less, the fluidwhile stored in the said casks undergoing a fermenting process, wherebyits flavor is improved,and giving off a certain amount of carbonic acidgenerated during fermentation. To prevent this gas from accu m ulatingin said casks and producing a very high compression, such as would soonburst the casks if not allowed to escape, it has been the commonpractice to supply each cask with a regulating device, by means of whicha limited escape was permitted and certain normal pressure wasmaintained. The compression ordinarily preferred was about from fivetoseven pounds above the normal atmospheric pressure. The devicesheretofore employed have frequently as constructed become obstructed inthe movements of their parts and have required frequent attention orexamination to ascertain whether or not they were in proper operativecondition to prevent explosion. This required much labor and trouble intesting the casks and ascertaining the pressure within. With theseobjects in view Iemploy longitudinal or main pipes o 0, extending alongthe series of casks a a, which pipes are formed, preferably of metal,and are provided with a series of branch pipes d of flexible material,such as rubber or the like. These branch pipes are properly fitted tothe main pipe and extend therefrom to the top of the casks.

They are provided with suitable valves cf at the points of connectionwith the casks and main pipes, by means of which valves the flow of gasmay be cut off both at the cask and at the pipes, the said valves beingformed independent of the branches, so as to permit of the removal ofthe said branch pipes, either or both, from the vent-cask connectionsand the main-pipe connections without interfering with the pressure inthe other casks, and the substitution of the usualhose or pipes .forracking on"? the fluid. I prefer to employ also in connection with themain pipe a drain-pipe g, by means of which the beer or fluid of thecasks entering the main pipe is drained from time to time to prevent thesaid fluid from passinginto the regulating device. In connection withsaid main pipes c I employ the improved regulating devices, which latterare preferably seated in a differ ent compartment from the series ofcasks, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, h indicating a partitionseparating the cask-rooms,which are usually dark and damp, from the roomcontaining said regulating devices, the separate apartment from thatcontaining the casks being dry and convenient for frequent observationof the device.

I prefer to arrange the casks alternately, as

indicated in Fig. 1, where two series of casks are shown, each serieshaving casks alternately arranged on opposite sides of the passage b, sothat casks having differently-compressed contents will be convenient ofaccess in certain operations. The several casks on each main pipe underordinary conditions have open connection one with another, and thus thecontents of said casks are maintained at a uniform pressure.

The peculiar regulating device which I prefer to employ com prises abed-casting 2', having at or near one end thereof, on the upper side, around recess 7', with a raised seat therearound, on which is arranged ametallic diaphragm Z, having annular concentric corrugations Z,by meansof which said diaphragm is flexed when fastened on its seat. Above saiddiaphragm Z, which is disposed horizontally over the recess or chamberj,so that liquid condensations may drain entirely away therefrom, is a capm, which is chambered so as to receive a disk-like plate n, seated uponsaid diaphragm and adapted to be moved vertically thereby as saiddiaphragm is flexed under the varying compression of the gas. The cap mis provided on its upper side with a tubular extension m, and the saiddisk n is provided also at its backor upper side with a rod 0, the upperend of which projects through said extension and is recessed or forked.Between the prongs of said fork a lever for operating the valve-rod q isarranged. Said rod q is disposed or lies parallel with the rod 0 and isin connection with the valve rfor con trolling the gas-escape passage rfor the compressed gas within the casks and connections. By opening orclosing the said valve r to a greater or less de greethegenerated gas isallowed to escape with greater or less rapidity, an increase of pressureopening said valve and a reduction of pressure efiecting a closure ofthe same, so as to maintain within the casks a uniform normal pressure.Said lever p is fulcrumed at about its center upon an adjusting-screw s,

by means of which the position of the fulcrum can be varied at will.Said adjusting-screw is arranged on a stud s fixed to the bed-plate at apoint between the recessj and the valve 20 and extending up from saidbed-plate to a point approximately in horizontal line with the rods 0and q, where it is horizontally perforated, as at s, to receive thelever and vertically perforated and threaded to receive the fulcrumalscrew s,which latter is seated in the threaded perforation above thelever, so that the latter will bear thereon when pressed up ward. At itsopposite end from the rod 0 the said lever 29 engages the valve-rod qand cooperates with a spring t on said rod q to maintain automaticallythe desired compression. Said spring can be increased or diminished intension by means of an adjusting thumb nut u and acts normally to holdthe air-escape valve closed. The said lever extends through saidvalve-rod, as shown, and when lifted at one end by the diaphragm landconnections it is depressed at the opposite end and throws theair-escape valve 7' open to permit a more free outflow of the compressedair. This said valve may be set at any desired pressure. Forexample,under ordinary circumstances I prefer to set the said valve at seven andone half pounds. The said valve-rod is preferably arranged in bearingswithin a vertical tube 1;, fixed to the bedplate, the said tube beingprovided with male threads to enter a vertical opening in the bedplatehaving corresponding threads. A little above its threaded lower end thesaid tube is furnished with openings *0 for the outpassage of gas fromthe open valve. The lower extremity of the tube serves as a valve-seat oagainst which the valve r is forced up by the spring 6.

Within the tube v, above the passage 1* thereinfor the outflowing gas,are suitable bearings 1 11 on which the valve-rod q slides, the saidhearings projecting a little in from the side walls of the tube toreduce friction. At the upper end of the tube the same is provided witha horizontal opening c to receive the lever 19 or permitthe passage ofthe same, and at its upper extremity, above said horizontal opening, itprovides a seat 12*, upon which the exposed spring i for automaticallyclosing the valve bears with greater or less pressure, governed by theregulating-nut u, as will be understood. Around said tube is arranged awater-cup 10, which may be of glass, so as to permit a view of theescaping gas as it bubbles up through the water. The top of saidwater-cup is preferably inclosed by a cap w, in which is arranged agas-escape passage, such as is provided by the pipe or tube to, of anydesirable construction. This cap 20 prevents the water from spatteringout of the cup as the gas bubbles rise through the water and break andalso prevents the settling of dust or dirtin said cup. To receive thetransparent cylindrical part of the cup, the top of the bed-plate isprovided with a recess "0 into which said trans parent part fits, thejoint being rendered impervious in any desirable manner.

Within the bed'plate t' is formed ,a compressedair passage '2 which isdisposed horizontally and is in open communication with the recess jthrough the passage j and with the valveopening and at the end of thebedplate is in open connection with a pipe 0',

leading to or adapted to be brought into connection with the main pipe0, above referred to. On this pipe 0 I arrange a pressure indicator orgage c of any construction adapted to reveal the pressure of the gaswithin the cask or main pipe at any time.

'lhe adjusting-screw .9, serving as a fulcru in for the lever, isprovided above the end of the stud s with a dial or disk 5, on which aregrad nation-marks indicating the degree of movement necessary in makinga proper setting of the lever. This dial-plate operates, in connectionwith an index hand or pointer s", to facilitate the setting operation.

The bed-plate, at a point in line with the "alve-rod q, is open on theunderside and is provided with a screw plug or cap q, adapted to beremoved to permit of the easy and quick removal of said valve from itsrod and seat for purposes of repair and renewal wit hout changing thefulerumal adjusting-screw or the tension of the spring.

In a prior construction sometimes employed heretofore the single mainpipe connecting the several barrels of a series was elevatedconsiderably above the casks and the branch pipes depended therefrom, sothat the fluid con d ensationskvitlxin said pipes, afterlying in saidpipes and taking up metallic salts or the like, have been allowed to runback into the casks, thus contaminating and injuring the quality of thebeer therein. In my improved construction the connecting-pipe 0 isdisposed horizontally in a plane below the top of the barrels, thebranch pipes leading down from the top of the barrel or cask to the saidconnecting-pipe to secure a downward flow of the condensed fluids fromthe barrels to a suitable outlet, thus preventing the return flow of thecondensed fluid into the barrels. Furthermore, by having theconnection-pipes near the bottom of the barrels I obtain more convenientaccess to the main-pipe connections, whereby I am enabled to change thesaid connections with great facility and ease, as will be hereinafterexplained. Again, I am aware that heretofore safety-valves have beenprovided employing rubber disks; but such rubber disks wereobjectionable, as above intimated, requiring frequent examination toascertain Whether or not they were in proper operative condition.Inasmuch as the rubber has a peculiar aflinity for the ingredients ofthe beer or the gaseous and vaporous effluvia therefrom, the fluidcondensations tend to prevent a free action of said disk unlessfrequently cleaned, so that the valve fails to maintain a trueindication of the pressure in the casks. In the present construction Ihave dispensed with the use of the rubber and se cured a more certain,positive, and uniform result by the metallic construction hereindescribed. Further advantageous results are obtained from myconstruction by disposing the valve-spring 15 outside of the fluidchambers or ducts, where gummy matter or sediment is prevented frommaking a deposit thereon, and thus clogging its operations, so that thevalve is not properly sensitive to variations. In myconstruction thespringi, governing the valve, is not inclosed where it can contact withthe moist gas from the cask or with the water in the cup to or with thewashwater so freely directed upon the casks, &c., in the operation ofcleaning. Indeed, the spring, with the device, is in a separate room orapartment,where it or the regulating device is not subjected to waterfrom the cleaninghose; but if the regulating device were placed upon thecasks the exposed spring would not be clogged, but only cleaned, by theWater, which would immediately drain off and the spring soon dry. Again,I employ means for securing a more exact Working of the valve byproviding an index device in connection with the fulcrum of thevalve-lever. I thus avoid the necessity for turning the bearings of thevalve-spring, as in other devicesfor the purpose, and disturbing theadjustment of said spring, it being understood that the pressurerequired is exact, and any arrangement of parts tends to disturb theadjustment of the regulating device, so that its indications becomeuntrue and misleading and the pressures vary from the PIOPGPS'DfiHdflIClindicated.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is- Theimproved pressi'ire-regulating devices for brewers casks comprising abed -plate having a chamber, passage, and a valve-tube hearing at oneside of said chamber, a corrugated sheet-metal diaphragm arrangedhorizontally over the chamber in said bed-plate, a chambered cap restingat its edges on said diaphragm and secured to said bed-plate and havinga tubular upward extension, a disk lying in said hollow cap, above saidmetal diaphragm and having a rod, 0, extending therefrom through thetubular extension and projecting out from said extension, the projectingend being recessed or forked and engaging a lever, said lever fulcrumedon an adjustable screw arranged above said lever and having a dial-platewith indicating-marks, a stud secured to the bed-plate and providing apassage for the lever and a bearing for the adjustable fulcrum abovesaid lever, a valverod q, operated by the lever, a valve engagin g avalve-seat within the bed-plate, a spring 15, arranged outside of thechem bered bed-plate on the valve-rod, a tube '0, arranged in thetube-bearings of the bed-plate around said valve-rod and providing avalve-seat at its lower end, a lever-passage and spring-bearing at itsupper end and furnished with openings for the outflow of gas betweensaid ends, and a transparent water-cup seated on the bed-plate outsideof said tube whereby the v gas issuing from the openings in said tubewill appear to view as it bubbles up from said openings, and a nut to,for increasing or din'inishing the tension of the spring, substantiallyas set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this7th day of January, 1897.

JOHN HENRY AYASSE. Witnesses: RUSSELL M. EVERETT, O. B. PITNEY.

